Analysis by Nikola Gajic
This study analyzes the role of religion in Orthodox countries, where religion plays an important role when it comes to national identity, focusing on Serbia and Montenegro. Apart from analyzing this specific connection, the paper addresses the politicization of religion by both the state and religious institutions during the turbulent events in Montenegro between 2019 and 2020. Critical discourse analysis and the Discourse-Historical Approach is used to analyze the potential but significant shift in the ethnoreligious and nationalist discourse of Serbian Orthodox Church officials. These methodological tools are used to observe the phenomenon of politicization of religion and frame the discourse of the two actors of this process, the Serbian state and the Serbian Orthodox Church. The paper concludes that the Serbian state has to “defend” the influential position of the Serbian Church due to their historical connection. By protecting the Church, the state is showing its dedication to the preservation of the Serbian national identity.
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